Mayme Davis Jones

Mrs. Jones went to be with the Lord on April 20, 2011. She had been the youngest of four children born to Cecil W. Davis, Sr. and Delilah Sutherland Davis. Born in Wilmington, NC on August 30, 1924, she grew up in Charlotte, and graduated from Central High School in 1942. She worked with the Charlotte Board of Education for five years. In 1949 she married John Paul Jones (known to friends as “Paul”), who passed away in 2003. They lived in Mexico City for their first year of marriage. Other than that adventure, she lived her entire life in North Carolina, almost all of it in Charlotte, which she called home.

She is survived by her three children, George Dewitt (“Dee”) Jones and Paul Douglas Jones, both living in Charlotte, and Sara (“Sally”) Elizabeth Jones Gilson, of Yorktown, Virginia. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Mimi Dwyer of Charlotte, and Jonathan and Lisa Gilson, of Yorktown, VA. She had one great-grandchild, Joshua Kenyon, of Charlotte. Her surviving sister-in-law, Frances Basnight, lives in Virginia Beach, VA. She had six nephews.

In 2006 she was honored with the Sam Ryburn Walker Award from the Greater Charlotte CROP Walk, “In recognition of the individual who has shown extraordinary spirit and dedication to inspire others in the fight against hunger.” It was typical of her spirit. She began taking daily walks with neighborhood friends in 1983, and kept at it for years until she had walked the equivalent of the full distance around the world. She raised thousands of dollars for the poor and hungry through the annual CROP Walk, and she was famous for her homemade sourdough bread that she constantly gave away to loved ones, friends, and the needy. For eight years she was a regular participant in water aerobics at the Marion Diehl Recreation Center.

She was a member of St. Andrews United Methodist Church, was active in the United Methodist Women for over 50 years, and was a recipient of the UMW’s Life Membership Pin in recognition for service. She was a leader in prayer and care ministries. She was constantly devoted to her husband, family, friends, and the Lord.

The family will receive friends at Harry and Bryant Funeral Home, 500 Providence Rd., Charlotte, on Friday evening, April 22, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, April 23, at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 1900 Emerywood Rd., Charlotte, with a graveside service following.

Donations in her memory may be made to St. Andrews United Methodist Church, where they will be used for compassion ministries, or to the American Diabetic Association.